The conservative House Freedom Caucus on Wednesday came out in opposition to the GOP's budget proposal that raises debt limits and does away with government spending caps.
The caucus tweeted its official position against the measure, citing the bipartisan Senate deal's massive expansion of the federal government.
"Official position: HFC opposes the caps deal. We support funding our troops, but growing the size of government by 13 percent is not what the voters sent us here to do," the caucus said.
Official position: HFC opposes the caps deal. We support funding our troops, but growing the size of government by 13 percent is not what the voters sent us here to do.
— House Freedom Caucus (@freedomcaucus) February 8, 2018
Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows
Mark Randall MeadowsCawthorn wins election to fill seat vacated by Meadows Live updates: Democrats seek to extend House advantage Trump during visit with campaign staff: 'Winning is easy. Losing is never easy' MORE (R-N.C.) predicted after a closed-door meeting with Republicans on Wednesday that the majority of GOP representatives would support the Senate bill, but that it would not pass without more Democratic support.
With key fiscal hawks in the House rejecting the plan, Speaker Paul Ryan
Paul Davis RyanMcCarthy faces pushback from anxious Republicans over interview comments Pelosi and Trump go a full year without speaking Jordan vows to back McCarthy as leader even if House loses more GOP seats MORE (R-Wis.) will now need to earn dozens of Democratic votes for the bill to pass.
Rep. Jim Jordan
James (Jim) Daniel JordanHouse Judiciary Republicans mockingly tweet 'Happy Birthday' to Hillary Clinton after Barrett confirmation Sunday shows preview: Trump, Biden gear up for final sprint to Election Day McCarthy faces pushback from anxious Republicans over interview comments MORE (R-Ohio), a founder of the caucus, said he was disappointed by the deal and said he "never thought the Speaker would go here with these high numbers."
The Senate deal would set spending levels for military and nondefense spending over the next two years, in time to avoid a federal government shutdown before the deadline of midnight Thursday.
